New noise rules could raise fines for parties

By Staff reports

From Staff Reports

A new city of Santa Clara ordinance, which could be voted on as early as Nov. 28, would raise fines and potentially penalize landlords for off-campus noise violations.

The ordinance, titled "Multiple Responses to Loud or Unruly Parties, Gatherings, or Events," would allow the city to recover costs incurred by dispatching police and fire to parties are considered a public nuisance according to city guidelines.

The proposed legislation also includes property owners in the list of those who can be fined for repeat offenses at houses.

"If this gets passed, we would want to get the word out to off-campus students," said Jeanne Rosenberger, vice provost for student life. "We might end up seeing more eviction notices as a result (of the ordinance)."

The ordinance allows the city to charge fines on second and subsequent responses for city employee wages from police and fire and damage to city property after a first response, up to a maximum of $1,000.

The city would also require a notice to be posted that the property is a public nuisance for three months. A violation would result in a $1,000 fine.

The ordinance defines public nuisance as "a substantial disturbance of the quiet enjoyment of private or public property in a significant segment of a neighborhood." Examples given are excessive noise or traffic, obstruction of public streets by crowds or vehicles, public drunkenness, serving alcohol to minors, fights, disturbing the peace, vandalism and litter.

The city defines a party as three or more persons, which Rosenberger said was surprising.

The ordinance also states the time a second response would last would become 72 hours -- not 48 hours.

Under the new laws, landlords would be liable for noise violations. The ordinance states that if the city has to respond the same property more than once within a year, the person who owns the property is "jointly" liable for fines.

The ordinance will be voted on by the City Council at the next meeting on Nov. 28, at the earliest, according to Jose Armas, office records specialist in the city clerk's office. City council meetings are open to the public.

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